Bulgaria attracts European and international IT companies seeking talented developers at competitive rates. The country hosts 105,000+ IT professionals across nearly 10,000 companies, with 70% working on export-focused projects[.
Junior developer salaries start at BGN 25,000-45,000 annually ($14,000-$25,300), while specialized infrastructure roles reach BGN 22,000 monthly [web:65]. Experience, specialization, and location determine final compensation.
In this article, we will look closely at Bulgarian IT developer salaries and industry trends.
What Bulgarian IT Developers Actually Earn in 2025
Bulgarian IT developer salaries range from BGN 1,500 monthly for junior developers to BGN 22,000 for specialized infrastructure roles. The market plateaued in 2024 after years of rapid growth. Industry experts predict 2025 compensation will hold near 2024 levels with moderate, uneven increases across roles.
Here’s the current compensation breakdown for Bulgarian IT developer salaries, across major specializations:
On IT developer salaries in Bulgaria, factors such as their skillset and work experience come into play.
Here’s the current compensation breakdown across major specializations:
| Role | Experience | Monthly Net (BGN) | Annual Gross (BGN) | USD Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Software Developer | 0-2 years | 1,500 – 3,000 | 25,000 – 45,000 | $14,000 – $25,300 |
| Mid-Level Software Developer | 2-5 years | 3,000 – 6,000 | 45,000 – 90,000 | $25,300 – $50,600 |
| Senior Software Developer | 5+ years | 6,000 – 9,000 | 90,000 – 135,000 | $50,600 – $76,000 |
| DevOps Engineer | 3-7 years | 2,000 – 22,000 | 30,000 – 330,000 | $16,900 – $185,600 |
| ML/AI Specialist | 5+ years | 7,000 – 15,000 | 105,000 – 225,000 | $59,000 – $126,500 |
| Data Scientist | 3-7 years | 4,000 – 12,000 | 60,000 – 180,000 | $33,700 – $101,200 |
| Backend Developer (Python/Java) | 3-7 years | 3,000 – 20,000 | 45,000 – 300,000 | $25,300 – $168,700 |
| Frontend Developer (React/Angular) | 2-5 years | 1,200 – 11,000 | 18,000 – 165,000 | $10,100 – $92,800 |
| Full Stack Developer | 2-5 years | 2,500 – 5,000 | 40,000 – 75,000 | $22,500 – $42,200 |
| Mobile Developer (iOS/Android) | 3-5 years | 2,500 – 8,000 | 40,000 – 120,000 | $22,500 – $67,500 |
**Data Sources**: Salary ranges compiled from Digital Alliance Bulgaria (May 2024-May 2025 survey), The Recursive (July 2025 analysis), DEV.BG job postings (2024-2025), and recruitment firm databases. Currency conversions use October 2025 exchange rates (1 BGN = $0.562 USD).
Why Specialization Determines Your Budget
The ML/AI specialist position has become the highest paying job in Bulgaria’s technology industry. The maximum median net salary for machine learning professionals with five or more years of experience reaches €7,659 per month (which equals BGN 15,000). The monthly salary range for infrastructure roles includes DevOps engineers and cybersecurity specialists and database administrators who earn between BGN 2,000 and BGN 22,000.
Backend developers who work with Python, Java or C++ programming languages earn higher salaries than frontend developers. The monthly compensation for a mid-level Python developer ranges from BGN 3,000 to BGN 20,000 based on their level of experience. Frontend developers earn lower salaries based on their experience level yet React and Angular specialists receive monthly pay between BGN 1,200 and BGN 11,000.
The salary difference between senior positions becomes more pronounced because backend developers earn 30-40% more than their peers.
Full stack developers earn lower salaries than developers who specialize in particular areas at equivalent levels of experience. Organizations now choose to focus on deep expertise instead of wide-ranging knowledge when they need to hire staff for teams that have 10 to 100 members.
Geographic Salary Differences: Bulgarian IT Developer Salaries
The location where an employee works determines their IT compensation levels. Sofia accounts for 88% of Bulgaria’s ICT value-added and offers the highest salaries[web:41]. The capital hosts over 100,000 IT specialists with major employers including SAP Labs, VMware, HP, and IBM. A senior software developer in Sofia earns BGN 7,000 to BGN 9,000 monthly.
The city of Plovdiv operates as Bulgaria’s established second technology center. IT professionals in Plovdiv typically earn 60-70% of Sofia equivalents[web:65]. A senior developer making BGN 8,000 in Sofia would earn BGN 5,500-6,000 in Plovdiv Rent for comparable housing in Plovdiv runs 40-50% below Sofia prices[web:65].
The cities of Varna and Burgas function as new technology hubs which offer compensation packages that amount to 50-60% of what Sofia provides. Organizations that want to reduce their operational expenses while following EU regulations now investigate these new markets.
Critical Market Shifts You Need to Understand
Bulgaria’s IT market transformed fundamentally in 2024. The employment market underwent a transformation which granted employers more power than job seekers in the job market.
Salary Growth Has Flatlined
The rapid increases from 2018-2023 ended abruptly. Kamen Bochev, Managing Partner at Skillwork, notes that companies continue layoffs while reducing hiring, keeping salaries flat. He expects “no big dips or spikes” in 2025 IT compensation.
Ventsislav Topuzov, CEO of ROITI, predicts “moderate growth, unevenly distributed across roles”. Traditional roles like Application Developer saw only 5-6% increases in 2024. Companies adopted individualized compensation strategies. Yana Papardova who serves as HR Manager at Schwarz IT notes that companies today focus on job security and employee perks instead of providing substantial wage reductions.
Political and Economic Headwinds
The Bulgarian outsourcing market faces multiple major obstacles which reduce its appeal to potential clients[web:2]. Political instability and tax uncertainty make the country less competitive for international investment[web:2]. Germany and the UK—Bulgaria’s main trade partners—face economic pressures that reduce outsourcing demand.
The talent pool shrinks as experienced professionals emigrate. Since 1990, Bulgaria lost approximately 22% of its population[web:82]. The current compensation structure drives up executive pay levels but restricts the ability of the market to expand.
The Commitment Premium
Organizations now base their employee recognition on loyalty performance instead of depending solely on technical abilities[web:2]. Papardova predicts that “employees who aren’t committed to their companies will lose out”[web:2]. Organizations spend significant resources to keep their top performers instead of giving raises to all employees[web:2]. Employers need to allocate more money for employee retention because their current spending on keeping staff members exceeds their expenses for bringing in new employees [web:2].
How Bulgaria Compares to Western Markets
The salaries for IT professionals in Bulgaria fall between 50% to 75% lower than what Western European companies pay for similar work. A senior software engineer in Bulgaria earns approximately BGN 90,000 to BGN 135,000 annually ($50,600 to $76,000). German counterparts expect closer to €70,000-90,000 (BGN 137,000-176,000). Junior app developers in Bulgaria earn around $21,000 annually versus $80,000 in the United States.
The Purchasing Power Reality
People make errors when they directly compare salaries because they do not take into account the expenses required to live in their area. The cost of living in Bulgaria remains low which makes salaries more attractive than the exchange rate would indicate. Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in nice Sofia neighborhoods costs BGN 1,400-1,500 monthly plus BGN 500 utilities (BGN 2,000 total). The housing costs in Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas amount to 60-70% of what residents pay in Sofia.
A senior developer who earns between BGN 7,000 and BGN 8,000 per month after taxes can afford to maintain a family of three to four people while taking annual trips. The purchasing power in Stockholm and Copenhagen demands employees to receive higher nominal salaries for obtaining equivalent value.
Tax Advantages
Bulgaria maintains the lowest corporate and personal income tax rates in the EU at 10% flat. Foreign companies establishing Bulgarian operations save 15-30 percentage points on tax rates compared to other EU countries. The flat tax system provides businesses with easy tax compliance and lower total compensation costs. The country operates under full GDPR compliance standards while offering these tax benefits.
Real Hiring Timelines and Challenges
Standard IT hiring in Bulgaria takes 45-60 days from position approval to start date. This timeline exceeds the 30-day target most Scandinavian companies expect
| Phase | Duration | Key Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Position Approval & Job Posting | 3-5 days | Budget approval delays from HQ |
| Candidate Sourcing & Screening | 7-10 days | High volume of unqualified applicants |
| Technical Interviews (2-3 rounds) | 7-14 days | Scheduling across time zones |
| Final Interviews & Culture Fit | 5-7 days | Competing offers from local firms |
| Offer & Negotiation | 3-5 days | Salary expectation misalignment |
| Notice Period | 30 days | Candidate retention during notice |
| Total Time-to-Hire | 45-60 days | Missing quarterly hiring KPIs |
Why Your Hiring Takes Longer
Time zone coordination creates scheduling bottlenecks according to file 77. The process of technical interviews which need Stockholm or Oslo stakeholders extends the typical timeline by 3-7 days. Companies with full hiring authority in Bulgaria move faster.
Generic recruitment agencies send unqualified candidates who waste interview slots. Top candidates receive multiple offers while serving notice at current employers. Approximately 15-20% of accepted candidates receive counter-offers during notice periods.
Bulgaria’s IT Market Fundamentals
Bulgaria’s ICT market reached $8.55 billion in 2025 and projects to hit $9.7 billion by 2030 *(data verified October 2025)*.. The sector grew revenue 300% over seven years, reaching approximately €2.5 billion currently[web:44]. Nearly 10,000 ICT companies operate in Bulgaria, with 70% working exclusively on export basis.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total IT Professionals | 105,000+ | PWRTeams, Digital Alliance |
| ICT Companies | 10,000+ | PWRTeams |
| AI/ML Engineers Available | 1,500+ | PWRTeams |
| DevOps/Cloud Engineers | 2,000+ | PWRTeams |
| Average Time-to-Fill | 2 months | ManpowerGroup |
| Companies Planning Hires (Oct 25 – Mar 26) | 28% | ManpowerGroup |
| Employee Turnover Rate | 1-10% (41% of companies) | ManpowerGroup |
| Candidate Probation Pass Rate | 98.6% | Alcor BPO |
| Average Employee Tenure | 2.5 years | Alcor BPO |
Scandinavian companies particularly favor Bulgarian operations. The time zone overlap (1-2 hours difference from Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen) enables real-time collaboration. Cultural compatibility and strong English fluency make communication smoother than with Asian outsourcing destinations.
Bulgaria has the most certified IT professionals per capita in Europe and ranks third worldwide[web:50]. However, brain drain undermines these advantages as many top graduates emigrate immediately after completing degrees.
Compensation Beyond Base Salary
Bulgarian IT companies offer various benefits beyond base salary[web:59][web:61]. Private health insurance represents the most common supplementary benefit. The national healthcare system of Bulgaria receives additional coverage from numerous companies which provide dental and vision care and specialist medical services[web:59].
Performance bonuses typically add 10-15% to base compensation at most companies. Staff members have access to professional development budgets which enable them to participate in conferences and pursue certification programs and complete courses. The benefit draws mid-career workers who want to develop their skills.
Flexible work arrangements became standard during the pandemic but are now decreasing. More businesses now support employees to work from the office or implement hybrid work arrangements[web:2]. Senior talent members at organizations with strict office rules tend to leave their jobs at higher rates.
Practical Guidance for Hiring Success
Research current market rates for specific technologies and experience levels. A senior React developer commands different compensation than a senior backend Python developer. Budget for the middle-to-upper range of salary bands for critical roles[file:77]. The practice of offering minimum compensation rates leads to a 30-40% extension of the hiring process.
Delegate hiring authority to Bulgarian country managers rather than requiring Stockholm approval. Organizations that operate with local decision authority manage to fill their positions at a rate that is 25-30% faster. The organization needs to work with recruiters who have expertise in finding candidates who match the technical qualifications of their available positions. Generic agencies waste time by sending candidates who do not meet the required qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can I hire senior mobile developers in Bulgaria?
Senior mobile developers (iOS/Android with 5+ years) typically require 1-6 weeks from search initiation to start date when working with specialized recruiters. The competition for this limited talent pool causes generic job board postings to stretch hiring timelines out to 6-10 weeks. Organizations that need fast hiring processes should work with recruiters who already have databases containing pre-screened mobile developers.
Should I hire in Sofia or Plovdiv?
Sofia provides salary rates that are 30-40% above average but enables employers to find top candidates while achieving the quickest possible hiring process. The company should select Sofia as its location for senior specialists and technical leads and employees who need to visit the headquarters regularly. The city of Plovdiv offers developers with intermediate skills who use standard technologies access to budget-friendly solutions because it lacks a high concentration of skilled professionals. The organization operates through a hybrid system which places senior team members in Sofia while maintaining a bigger mid-level team in Plovdiv.
What causes salary offers to get rejected?
The three main reasons that cause employers to reject candidates include when they pay less than market value and when job growth prospects are ambiguous and when the recruitment process extends beyond reasonable timeframes. Senior developers who receive multiple job offers select companies based on their dedication which they prove through their well-structured and competent hiring processes. Organizations need to establish a hiring timeline which allows top candidates to receive job offers between 14 to 21 days following their initial interview.
How much should I budget for annual salary increases?
The compensation plan offers standard employees 5-10% annual salary increases but provides essential staff members with 15-25% salary growth. The market shifted toward individualized rather than across-the-board increases. Organizations that provide equal treatment to all staff members will lose their best performers to businesses which offer performance-based compensation differences. Organizations need to offer 20-30% more than their first counter-offer to keep employees who receive external job offers.
What benefits matter most to Bulgarian developers?
Most employees value professional development budgets and flexible work arrangements and defined career progression over additional benefits. Private health insurance is expected as standard. Performance bonuses need to have clear targets which employees can reach instead of being based on unattainable goals. Bulgarian developers consider time-off policies and work-life balance to be their most important benefit.
About This Research
That’s it. The complete bulgarian developer salaries report. This salary analysis og Bulgarian IT developer salaries combines data from three primary sources: DEV.BG’s 2024-2025 compensation survey (May 2024-May 2025), The Recursive’s July 2025 IT salary report, and ManpowerGroup’s October 2025 Southeast Europe hiring trends[web:5][web:2]].
Data reflects 2,675 new IT positions created in 2024 and surveys of Bulgaria’s 105,000+ IT professionals. Salary ranges verified against PayScale, Alcor BPO, and PWRTeams recruitment databases through October 2025.
Related Resources:
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Bulgaria vs Poland for IT Outsourcing: 2025 Comparison – Compare two top CEE tech markets
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50+ Hiring Statistics Bulgaria: Key Insights and Trends – Latest recruitment data and benchmarks related to Bulgarian IT developer salaries.
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Average Salary in Bulgaria (2025 Update) – Cross-industry compensation analysis
External Authority Sources:
- Bulgaria’s ICT market reached $8.55 billion in 2025 and projects to hit $9.7 billion by 2030[web:41] *(data verified October 2025)*.
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The Recursive: Which Tech Jobs Pay Most in Bulgaria 2025 – Industry expert analysis on salary trends
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PWRTeams: Bulgaria IT Staff Augmentation – Comprehensive talent market overview
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ManpowerGroup: Recruitment Trends 2025 Southeast Europe – Regional hiring data and forecasts
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Digital Alliance Bulgaria: IT Sector Salaries Continue to Rise – May 2024-2025 compensation research
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Accedia: Outsourcing IT Services to Bulgaria for Nordic Tech – Scandinavian perspective on Bulgarian market
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